Outdoors - Pierce County Journal

Jake Gilles of Gilles Land Company & Drone Recovery brought out his drone to see if we could find my archery buck. The technology was fascinating to watch.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Buck recovery mission

Last week you read that I arrowed a buck during the archery season. This week I am picking up where I left off - I had pulled off the trail and was waiting for a drone to arrive to assist with … more

By Dave Beck | 12/3/25

This shoutout goes to Alex Helmer who bagged this awesome Pierce County buck in early November. Alex was assisted and supervised by his grandfather, Bill Helmer. Congrats Alex.

GALLERY: Outdoor Tales & Trails' Dave Beck shoutouts

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) celebrates the conclusion of the 2025 nine-day gun deer hunt, which kicked off the holiday season in Wisconsin with opportunities … more

12/3/25

This buck was on my trail cam. Did I get him or not?

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Did I get my deer yet?

It’s Thanksgiving week of the gun season and that changes up the order of conversation starters. Weather is third in the power rankings; the Packers are second and the deer gun season tops … more

By Dave Beck | 11/25/25

Chris Hardie, his son Ross Hardie and his youngest grandson Samuel Hardie during the 2024 hunting season.

Back Home: Preparing for 50th deer hunting season

I sat with my back against a tree and slowly surveyed the landscape before me. Early November is when the beauty of fall loses her luster. The kaleidoscope of color has faded into drab browns. … more

By Chris Hardie | 11/19/25

Hunters are required to wear blaze orange so as to be seen by other hunters.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: It’s gun dear season!

All other stories are on hold because it’s the Wisconsin deer gun season and that’s the talk of the state. So where did Fall go? It seems like just a few weeks ago I was … more

By Dave Beck | 11/19/25

Wisconsin has a network of venison donation partners, including county land and water conservation departments, food pantries, charitable organizations, USDA - Wildlife Services and participating meat processors, who all help implement and administer the deer donation program.

Hunters: Help your fellow Wisconsinites experiencing food insecurity by participating in Deer Donation Program

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages hunters to donate Wisconsin-harvested deer through the DNR’s Deer Donation Program. The program helps stock food pantries … more

11/12/25

Outdoor Tales & Trails: King of the Field

I just looked back through the past eight weeks and was surprised to find that I have yet to post a single article about the deer archery season. Then I realized that we are now within the long … more

By Dave Beck | 11/12/25

Dave2’s cabin in Douglas County might be rustic, but it’s the coolest cabin I’ve ever stayed in.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Falco’s perfect point

Have you ever watched someone doing something and make it look so easy that you thought to yourself: “Heck I can do that!” For example, you watch a good golfer poke the ball … more

By Dave Beck | 11/5/25

The Pop-Up Players, led by local educator Liz Malanaphy, ended the St. Croix River Watershed Clean Food & Water Forum, reminding all to protect the earth's resources for future generations.

Citizens, farmers and children come together for WI’s water

“Don’t be Iowa,” exclaimed Dr. Chris Jones, retired water research engineer, University of Iowa. Jones was one of seven experts, including Sonja Trom Eayrs, Dr. Steve Oberle and Tim … more

10/29/25

Frank Dosdall of Bay City walks along a shrinking Lake Pepin in 2022. The lake on the Mississippi River has been getting shallower because of sediment eroding from upstream.

As Mississippi River's Lake Pepin shrinks, project will study role of ravines

Lake Pepin, the largest naturally occurring lake on the Mississippi River, is a beloved resource and important economic engine for the Wisconsin and Minnesota towns that border it. In the … more

By Madeline Heim/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | 10/29/25

Progress is being made in the Bay City Dredging Project. Access channels around the new islands are being dredged. The fine sediments removed from the river are then placed on top of the islands — creating rich soil where plants can take root and thrive.

Bay City Restoration Project: Big progress on the river

BAY CITY – If you’ve been out on Lake Pepin lately, you may have noticed major changes underway near Bay City. The Bay City Habitat Restoration Project is moving full steam ahead — … more

10/29/25

Editor Sarah Nigbor’s Volkswagen Atlas was totaled after a collision with a deer. The vehicle had 275,000 miles on it. Quinn Motors was kind enough to provide an estimate when she limped the vehicle to their shop.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Deer vs. vehicle season

It’s the time of year for some serious hunting but that’s not what I’m talking about today. I’m talking about the deer/vehicle collision season. When a deer decides … more

By Dave Beck | 10/29/25

‘Rejoice together:’ Lots of hands get involved to make RFSD forest pavilion happen

RIVER FALLS — River Falls School District and school/community forest representatives gathered a crowd at the RFSD forest to unveil a pavilion Oct. 15. The pavilion is funded two-thirds by … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/22/25

My last catch and keep trout outing of the 2025 season yielded this nice 16-inch Brown Trout.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Goodbye, old friend

I always look forward to a new outdoor season because it brings new opportunities and renewed excitement. A great example is the spring turkey season. The late archery season ends months … more

By Dave Beck | 10/22/25

The iconic picture that has to be the most publicized photo in the history of musky fishing.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Legendary musky lore

The calendar says it’s time to bow hunt, but the weather says it’s still musky fishing season. I’ve done both but honestly, the warmer it is the more likely you will find me on … more

By Dave Beck | 10/15/25

Tree and shrub seedlings from a state nursery are available for purchase.

DNR tree and shrub seedling sales begin

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting seedling orders from Wisconsin landowners for trees and shrubs to be planted in spring 2026, starting Oct. 6, 2025. … more

10/8/25

There’s nothing like hearing duck wings beating in the predawn darkness while waiting for the hunt to legally open.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Duck hunter for life

Another outdoor season has snuck up on us, or at least me. Did you know that it is duck hunting season? Given our unseasonably warm weather over the past couple of weeks it’s hard to … more

By Dave Beck | 10/8/25

This map shows the prevalence of bears in areas of Wisconsin. In Pierce County, bears are common.

Outdoor Tails & Trails: Baiting a bear

Way back in 2006 I harvested my one and only black bear. I had been fortunate enough to hook up with some hound guys and they put me onto a good bear. Since it was my first bear hunt … more

By Dave Beck | 10/1/25

Lights Out Alerts are issued by Purdue University’s AeroEco Lab. High levels of bird migration are expected across eastern Wisconsin tonight, across nearly all of the state on Sept. 24, and across northern and eastern Wisconsin on Sept. 25, raising risks for birds.

Lights Out Alert issued statewide in Wisconsin for Wednesday night, Sept. 24

VIROQUA - White-hot levels of bird migration are forecast for Wisconsin on Wednesday night, Sept. 24, spurring Wisconsin bird conservation groups and Dark Skies International chapters to urge … more

9/24/25

Participants in the 2025 Data Analysis and Monitoring Crew Program (DAM Crew), stand in in the Kinnickinnic River. The project, which monitors the ecological health of the river, is one of seven water quality projects involving UW-River Falls supported by a new round of funding from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

UWRF among recipients of Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin funding

RIVER FALLS – The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin has awarded $324,944 to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for seven water quality projects that the university is either leading or … more

9/24/25